Electric advertising device



Aug. 13, 1940.

ELECTRI C ADVERTIS ING DEVI CE L. JNAP Filed Aug. 24, 1959 d 'P1 E- E..

IVNVENTOR Y aszlo J'feap TTORNEY Patented Aug. 13, 1940 STATES UNITE vATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC ADVERTISING DEVICE Application August 24,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an electric advertising device, possessing a lighting effect similar to that of neon lamps.v

1 The invention is intended to replace advertising signs constructed of neon lamps. This purpose is achieved by projecting the light of electric vincandescent lamps on glass sheets mountedand prepared in a special manner, owing to which arrangement the letters or pictures and figures painted on the said sheets will give the same effect as if neon tubes have been employed. By means of the electric advertising device according to the invention a lighting effect making the letters or pictures and figures appear raised can be obtained in a much simpler and less expensive manner thank by means of. the expensive neon tubes employed at present. A further advantage of the invention consists in the fact that in daylight, the device may ligure as an ordinary inscription, picture or figure, of any desired appearance whilst at night it will without any special arrangement, by simple lighting supply mains, create the perfect appearance of neon light. I

Still further the invention proposes the construction of an electric advertising device as mentioned which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, ref'.- erence will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is-a fragmentary front elevational view of an electric advertising device constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional vertical view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional` View taken on the 55" ment of this device.

1939, Serial No. 291,679

(Cl. LL -132.)

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line I'I of, Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. '7. v

The electric advertising device in accordance 5 with this invention includes a container I0 having an open front side IIIa and illuminating means II mounted therein. This illuminating means comprises an incandescent lamp IIa mounted on a suitable socket I2 connected in a suitable electric circuit. Preferably a condenser I3 is associated with the incandescent lamp to diffuse the light from the lamp and throw it uniformly across the opening II)a of. the container.

An outer diaphanous sheet I4 of glass, Cellophane, Celluloid, or the like, is mounted across the open side Illa, and has a symbol or symbols I5 painted or in any other manner printed on its outer face in material which is permeable to light. All other areas of the sheet I4 are covered with material I6 which is impermeable to light. At the area of the symbols I5 the impermeable material I6 is cut out so as to frame the material I5. Preferably the material IB should be cut slightly larger sothat there is a very narrow frame I1 around the symbol or symbols I5. For purposes of illustration the symbols I5 have been illustrated in the low part of Fig. 4 so as to comprise letters I5a. In the upper portion of Fig. 4 they comprise symbol configurations I5b.

An inner diaphanous sheet I8 is mounted across the open side IIIa of the container I0 but spaced slightly inwards of the outer sheet I4 so that there is a space I9 between these sheets. This inner sheet I8 has the same symbol or symbols painted or in any other manner imprinted thereon, and indicated by the reference numeral I5', distinguishing in the fact that this symbol or symbols are of smaller size than the symbols I5 so that light which may pass from within the container may fall upon the center part or parts of the symbol I5. In Fig. 3 an elevational View has been shown of the sheet I8 wherein it may easily be noted that the symbols thereon are identical to the symbols on the sheet I4 but of smaller size. In Fig. l these symbols have been shown superimposed.

The symbols I5' are arranged upon the inner face of. the sheet I8 and are formed from mate- 50 rial permeable to light. All other areas of the sheet I8 are covered with material 20 which is impermeable to light.

The impermeable materials I6 and 20 previously referred to preferably may be mirroring material. This mirroring material may be silver or other materials used to produce mirrors.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The light from the incandescent lamp IIa will be thrown uniformly across the inner face of the diaphanous sheet I8. At areas where the symbol or symbols I5 occur, the light may pass through and fall upon the areas I5, vividly illuminating center portions of these areas when the electric display device is viewed in the night time, from even only a short distance away and it will give the appearance of neon tubes. The vividly lighted area or areas will give the appearance of the tubes, and the surrounding areas upon the front sheet I4 which have the same symbols will give the effect of the haze usually found around neon tubes.

The symbol or symbols may be painted or imprinted in various desired colors. In the night time an eiect will be given which simulates colored neon tubes. In the day time the symbols I5 upon the front sheet I4 will be clearly visible and if the lamp IIa is lighted, vivid color of the symbols I5', situated behind it on the sheet I8 will also be seen. If desired, the lamp El@ need not be used in the daytime.

In Fig. 5 a modified form of the invention has been illustrated which distinguishes from the prior form in several respects. According to this forni of the invention the outer diaphanous sheet I4 is provided with a symbol or symbols 25 of material permeable to light arranged upon the rear face thereof. All other areas are covered with material 26 which is impermeable to light. This material 2E is also arranged upon the rear face of the sheet I4. The sheet I8 is constructed identically the saine as in the prior l'orm. The container I0 is illustrated with a door Ib at its back adjacent the incandescent lamp IIa, which may be opened for permitting replacement of the lamp when it is burned out.

In other respects this form of the invention is identical to the previous forms and similar parts may be recognized by the same reference numerals.

In Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive another form of the invention has been disclosed which distinguishes from the prior forms in the fact that the rear diaphanous sheet I8 is adjustably mounted. According to this form of the invention the sheet I8 is mounted in a frame 2|. This frame is supported centrally at its sides by a trunnion which consists of trunnion elements 22. These trunnion elements are supported in an cuter frame 23. This outer frame has several lugs 24 extending rearwards along the sides or the walls of the container IIJ. Clamp screws 28 are mounted upon the walls of the container and pass through elongated slots 29 formed in the lugs 24 for adjustably holding the frame 23 in various positions.

The frame 2| is adapted to pivot about its central trunnion. A means is provided for holding the frame in various pivoted positions. This means includes a slide 30 for each trunnion element slidably supported o-n bearing elements 3| mounted upon the walls of the container I0. Each slide 30 is formed with an opening 32 through which the trunnion element 22 passes. Each opening 32 is formed with a large end 32a into which a collar 33 extends. This collar is mounted coaxially upon the trunnion element 32 and xedly mounted on the side of the frame 2|. Each opening 32 has a rear end 32b which is reduced in size and has roughened sides which are adapted to engage the collar 33 to hold the collar for turning. The outer end of the slide 30 has a laterally bent portion 34 serving as a handle by which the slide may be manipulated. In other respects this form of the invention is identical to the prior forms and the same parts may be recognized by the identical reference numerals.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The light from the incandescent lamp IIa passes through the condensers I3, illuminating the front of the container I0. Some of the light passes through the permeable symbols I5 and I5 to produce the neon eifect previously referred to. However the inner sheet I8 may be adjusted forwards or rearwards relative to the outer sheet I4 so as to focus the light which passes through the symbols I5 centrally upon the symbols ISH. By moving the sheet I8 forwards or rearwards it is possible to increase or decrease the size of the light which falls on the symbols |53. Moreover when desired the slides 3) may be moved forwards to free the frame 2|. Then the frame may be pivoted slightly clockwise or anti-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 6 so as to change the position of the light which passes through the symbols I5 and falls upon the symbols |521. In this way diierent eiects of the neon eifect may be obtained. The frame 2| may be locked in any inclined position by merely moving the slides 30 forwards again so that the reduced ends 32b of the openings 33 grip the collars 33.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. An electric advertising device, comprising a container having an open side and illuminating means therein, an outer diaphanous sheet extending across said open side, symbols formed on the outer face of said outer sheet and of material permeable to light, an inner diaphanous sheet extending across said open side slightly inwards of said outer sheet forming a space between the adjacent faces of said sheets, like symbols formed on the inner face of said inner sheet also of material permeable to light and of a size slightly smaller than said symbols, and material 'impermeable to light formed on all other areas of the adjacent inner faces of said sheets.

2. An electric advertising device, comprising a container having an open side and illuminating means therein, an outer diaphanous sheet eX- tending across said open side, symbols formed on the outer face of said outer sheet and of material permeable to light, an inner diaphanous Sheet extending across said open side slightly inwards of said outer sheet forming a space between the adjacent faces of said sheets, like symbols formed on the inner face of said inner sheet also of material permeable to light and of a size slightly smaller than said symbols, and material impermeable to light formed on all other areas of the adjacent inner faces of said sheets, said impermeable material, comprising mirroring material for causing the light rays passing through the permeable symbols of said inner sheet to be reflected through the permeable symbols of said outer sheet.

3. An electric advertising device, comprising a container having an open side and illuminating means therein, an outer diaphanous sheet across said open side and having a symbol or symbols thereon in material permeable to light and all other areas being provided With material im permeable to light, and an inner diaphanous sheet across said open side spaced slightly in- Wards of said outer sheet and having the same symbol or symbols thereon in material permeable to light' and smaller in size so that light from Within said container may fall on the central part or parts of the symbol or symbols on the outer sheet, and all other areas of said inner sheet being provided With material impermeable to light, said impermeable material comprising mirroring material, said mirroring material being arranged upon the adjacent faces of said sheets, and said symbol or symbols being painted or irnprinted on the remote faces of said sheets.

4. An electric advertising device, comprising a container having an open side and illuminating means therein, an outer diaphanous sheet across said open side and having a symbol or symbols thereon in material permeable to light and all other areas being provided with material impermeable to light, and an inner diaphanous sheet across said open side spaced slightly in- Wards of said outer sheet and having the same symbol or symbols thereon in material permeable to light and smaller in size so that light from Within said container may fall on the central part or parts of the symbolor symbols on the outer sheet, all other areas of said inner sheet being provided with material impermeable to light, and means for adjustably holding said inner sheet so as to be movable forwards and rearwards,

5. An electric advertising device, comprising a 40 container having an open side and illuminating means therein, an outer diaphanous sheet across said open side and having a symbol or symbols thereon in material permeable to light and all other areas being provided with material impermeable to light, and an inner diaphanous sheet across said open side spaced slightly inwards of said outer sheet and having the same symbol or symbols thereon in material permeable to light and smaller in size so that light from Within said container may fall on the central part or parts of the symbol or symbolsl on the outer sheet, all other areas of said inner sheet being provided with material impermeable to light, and means for adjustably holding said inner sheet so as to be movable forwards and rearwards, and be pvotally about the central horizontal axis.

6. An electric advertising device, comprising a container having an open side and illuminating means therein, an outer diaphanous sheet across said open side and having a symbol or symbols thereon in material permeable to light and al1 other areas being provided with material impermeable to light, and 'an inner diaphanous sheet across said open side spaced slightly inwards of said outer sheet and having the same symbol or symbols thereon in material permeable to light and smaller in size so that light from Within said container may fall on the central part or parts of the symbol or symbols on the outer sheet, all other areas of said inner sheet being provided with material impermeable to light, and means for adjustably holding said inner sheet so as to be movable forwards and rearwards, and be pvotally about the central horizontal axis, and means for locking said inner sheet in various pivoted and forwards and rearwards adjusted positions.

`LAszLo JNAP. 

